Chapter 286 — A Heroic Tale Starting From Zero Part 1

Translator: Remonwater

Short story from tanpenshuu vol1 set at the end of arc 2. Figured I’d release these parts now since it’s equivalent to 1 WN chapter in terms of length, though it’s literally only 4/18 parts. My apologies for a bit of a drop in pace. I have managed to refuel just a little bit, but as of right now, I’m not sure what will be released next, since I’m not sure if I’ve even had enough. Won’t be working on this for some time since Rem will be gone from

the story for a bit. Also if anyone has a better way of romanizing リュリーレ let me know so I can change it.

I have to admit that I’ve been feeling cranky and a bit sad because of how few options I have left in regards to Rem content. Of course, I was aware of how I’d run out eventually, but that doesn’t make the pain any more bearable, you know? She just represents a humongous, ridiculous amount of happiness to me, and I always want to do it all for her. To suddenly have little options left to maintain that happiness is just cruel.

Sure I can re-read content, but that doesn’t really help that much. It’s not the whole package, because devoting myself to translating for her is part of that happiness. It’s not just about my self-enjoyment. It’s about doing everything I can for her, and doing that brings joy to me in itself. Of course it brings me joy. That’s obvious. That’s natural. Isn’t it a a given to be happy about being able to do everything you can for someone you’re madly in love with?

That happiness represents the fuel of the fire that keeps me going, and that fire isn’t even limited to just translating, it’s representative of what keeps me going for all other kinds of everyday activities. And when I lack fuel, that seems to lead to me being cranky and sad. I have more to say, but I’ll keep the rest to myself for now. When it’s her birthday, I’ll release a post containing all my feelings about her in detail without restraint, but perhaps you should have low expectations, considering I have a monologue about her in every one of my translations.

Also, I contacted one of the JP>CN translators that did the Rem’s best day of her life side story, so hopefully he sends me something. She’s the world to me. Her scenes are treasures to me. I love Rem so much

[Subaru: A bard is coming to the village?]

He’s told an astounding word, and Natsuki Subaru repeats it again with an astonished look.

Subaru turns around with a dust cloth in his hand, and just like always, he had his butler outfit style that wasn’t very suiting of him. His cleaning of the window was awkward because of his injures still remaining from the other day.

The incident where the mabeasts surrounded Margrave Roswaal’s mansion and the Alam village, the closest place near it──they abated the uproar before it was possible for victims to be had, and he received a literal injury of honor.

The confusion of the incident cleared up. The mansion and the village were already back to their usual appearance. Most of Subaru’s healing ended, and at the moment, he was working with all his might on chores in the mansion while rehabilitating.

[Emilia: Yes, a bard! I heard Ram talking about it, who came back from the village. Have you come across a bard?]

What responded to Subaru’s question was a voice that sounded like a refreshing, silver-bell melody.

The long, silver hair of the owner of that voice sways. She had such a beautiful face that even artists wouldn’t be able to bring themselves to draw it.

However, her deep blue eyes were filled with so much curiosity that she looked entranced, and if you looked at her cheeks that reddened from her uncontrollable excitement, those strong emotions would overwrite the prettiness of her appearance.

Subaru would also still show childish fascination every now and then.

[Subaru: E.M.T(Emilia-tan is seriously an angel)]

[Emilia: Eh? What did you say just now?]

The name of this girl who tilted her head in slight doubt at that nonsense was Emilia.

She was a benefactor, and a person that was also beloved to Subaru. Subaru laughs at her innocent behavior and says

[Subaru: Well, I’ve never personally seen one myself……..but Emilia-tan, seems like you’re looking forward to it.]

[Emilia: I don’t just seem like it, I am looking forward to it. Bards are people who tell stories through things like singing and dancing, right? Surely you should know various things about them…….hey, Subaru can you...]

Emilia has hope in her eyes, and she looks at Subaru as she put her hands together.

She calls his name with a sweet voice, and looked up with a spoiled gesture. As if there would be a man out there who wouldn’t give in to a girl as beautiful as Emilia making a request like that. Or at least, Subaru immediately gave in.

[Subaru: Yes mam. After you clean up and ask for Sensei’s permission, that is.]

[Emilia: Yeah. Sorry for having you accompany me because of my selfish request.]

[Subaru: It’s okay. He’s not expecting much with my chores while I’m in rehabilitation, so the date has priority.]

[Emilia: Oh, I see. We’ll be going out with the two of us, so it’ll be a date again, huh.]

Subaru looks at Emilia’s smile, who didn’t seem to notice the sinfulness of it, and held the dust cloth with the returned bucket and headed towards the mansion. In the window, he saw a view of the faraway village of Alam.

[Subaru: Bard, eh………]

When he said the word again, he felt like it gave off a more feelings of a fantasy than he had imagined.

He looked calm in front of Emilia, but there’s no way his heart wasn’t excited.

A singing voice would roll up the people and the world cheerfully and melodiously, and it would start to spin a tale.

Just from imagining it, it also excited Subaru’s heart without him knowing it, as he walked alone in the corridor with a cheerful mood.

2

[???: Well then, I will now sing. Please listen. ──The dolphin betrayed by the sunset.]

It was a melody that was depressing with its melancholy and it seemed sad, but it flowed through the village’s plaza like the rain of a day during rain season.

What stood on the rough stage made up of only lumber in the middle of the plaza was a form of what seemed to be an instrument between the guitar and the ukulele. It was a person playing a wooden stringed instrument.

The musical instrument with a geometrical pattern seemed to be bouncing temperament, but perhaps exhibiting gloominess to this sort of extent was something that depended on the singer’s technique. That was how impressive this gloomy atmosphere that wrapped up the village was to the villagers.

They are moved by the very depressing melody and the lyrics of the piece, and the villagers that acted as the audience had emotionless, dead eyes. Considering the appearance of these old ladies that were breaking down and crying from what felt like the end of the world, perhaps there was a possibility that they’ve never seen something this cruel, even with the unease with the mabeast incident.

[???: If it’s this sad, then I’d rather die. I won’t die. They won’t let me die…....]

The dolphin betrayed by her friend and fiance was being protected by the setting sun in the midst of the song on top of the bridge where an important promise was exchanged before. This seemed to be the climax of the story, and it was choosing whether or not to drown itself.

The singer played her musical instrument. It didn’t even matter if she was singing enough for it to be called a song; she supported it with her gestures. The story was full of realism, and a world was developed. Tears that couldn’t be handled appeared within the eyes of the audience that saw a trickle of tears go along those cheeks, and they too started to sob.

[???: It spits bubbles, and sinks into the silent sea. Oh, Dolphin. Oh, oh, Dolphin…….]

It seemed that the dolphin boldly sunk into the riverbed. The breeze and the flowers that could do nothing but watch her sorrow simply grieve over her miserable death, and the act came to an end──.

[Subaru: As if this could be a tune chosen for performance recitals, my god!!]

[Emilia: Oohyai!]

Subaru finally couldn’t take it anymore, and gave a retort when there were still lingering sounds.

The poet who sung the bad ending jumps up and down, surprising the audience, and the story world that had wrapped up the plaza crumbles. The villagers who were captured in the song’s world come to their senses, and they look at each other.

[???: Ah, eh……..] [???: Wow, look at that. I cried a lot.] [???: Aw man, the tears come quickly when you get old……] [???: Dolphin, you are another version of myself!] [???: The poet girl is cuuuute.]

Then, they all exchange their impressions unanimously while having tears in their eyes. And when they told their first impressions for a while, one of them looked back at Subaru, who snuck to the row furthest to the back in attempts to run away, and said

[???:──You are ruining the mood, Subaru-sama!!]

And he got shouted at, which startled him so much that it made him jump.

3

[Liliana: Allow me to introduce myself. I am the bard of the flow. I’m called Liliana.]

The person who said that was this cute girl who bowed quickly and still had traces of childishness in her.

She had eyes full of cheerfulness and curiosity, and yellow hair that seemed to reflect an aggressive personality. She had pigtails, and under her light cloak, she had dancer-like clothing that was decorated with ornaments that used nuts and animal bones. She was short, but her hands and legs were long, and her exposed skin had a healthy brown color. She was a girl that really did give off a feeling of a vagrant traveler.

[Subaru: Well then, thank youuu for your politeness. My name is Natsuki Subaru. I am a tumultuous, luxurious and gorgeous legman. At the mansion you see at the other side of the road, I am an all-round star as a servant.]

[Emilia: Tumultuwhat……? Ah, never mind. Hello. Nice to meet you.]

Subaru was being unkind with how he was greeting himself at his own pace, even when it was their first time meeting each other. Liliana pushes her doubtful look under a forced smile, being frantic as she tried to avoid hurting Subaru and Emilia’s moods, who explained that they were people related to feudal lord.

However, Liliana’s precautions were smashed up at once by Emilia’s next actions.

[Emilia: That song was reeeaally good. I might burst into tears any minute, so…..]

Being overcome with emotions, Emilia takes Liliana’s hand at once and expresses herself. Liliana becomes surprised for a moment by Emilia, as she was agitated. She quickly becomes aware of how she had been praised and then smiles.

[Liliana: Nooo! I am glad that you offered your kind attention too! I am still inexperienced, but just from you saying that…..huh!?]

Liliana responded to Emilia with a smile, as Emilia acted amiably, but as soon as Liliana looked at her, she immediately became dumbfounded. Liliana had her mouth open in astonishment, and she stiffened up.

Subaru and Emilia widened their eyes at that reaction, but Liliana still had a surprised look on her face. While having that look, she says

[Liliana: A─are you a goddess…….?]

[Emilia: ──Eh?]

[Liliana: I──I mean, I’ve never seen such a lovely person before! Woww, woww! This is what happens when you take care of yer hair and skin!? We really the same type of humans!?]

Liliana jumped up and down at that spot, being moved by Emilia’s beauty.

Emilia became speechless from her exaggerating reaction, but Subaru was in complete agreement with Liliana’s opinion. Emilia was a little too indifferent to her uncommon appearance. That was cute.

Then, when Liliana suddenly stopped jumping, she raised her instrument and bowed.

[Liliana: I just came up with a good idea. Please listen. ──Ohh, Goddess.]

Liliana draws in a small amount of breath, and she picks up the rhythm while being at a halt. She starts to play a melodious tune while smoothly plucking the strings of her instrument.

[Liliana: So profound to the point of being entrancing, light like a gem, eyes with bluish purple pyroxene in them. The flowy, silver hair of the moon’s tears. Delicate looks that cause divine protection to swoop down onto the fingertips of doll makers. Unbeknowing of how her skin, similar to white snow that falls and piles up, tramples on others. Slightly long ears that…..ears that…..ears thatttt?]

[────]

Liliana suddenly pauses her beautiful voice, who had been fluently expressing her feelings into a poem. Subaru saw the three changes of emotions in her golden eyes: from doubt, to realization, and then surprise.

She looks towards Emilia’s ears, and adds on words to the song she sang herself.

[Liliana: The ear length of her silver hair…….no way, the witch of envy!]

[Subaru: Alright, stop! It was a nice song, but I have suspicions that it has been caught by copyright! The verdict will be brought up later after a strict inspection, and so we must humbly cut off relations with you and…….]

[Emilia: ──Subaru]

Subaru stops Liliana from speaking at once, and covers up to prevent careless words from coming out. However, the person who criticized Subaru’s actions was none other than Emilia herself.

Emilia gets joint locked by Liliana, and Emilia pouts at Subaru, who held Liliana’s shoulders.

[Emilia: I’m happy about Subaru worrying for me, but it’s not okay to be rude to girls. Tsk tsk]

[Subaru: Haven’t heard “tsk tsk” nowadays…….or rather, even disregarding that, Emilia-tan…]

[Emilia: It’s fine. Even if you try to cover it up after she’s noticed, it won’t solve anything.]

Emilia gave an explanation without blame, and she did act dignified, but Subaru couldn’t act like that. Her not saying anything and exposing herself to blame made him feel sick.

──Emilia was born between a human and a elf. In other words, she was a half-elf.

There were various kinds of demi-humans mixed in this world, but discrimination against demihuman clans──it seemed there was an ingrained opinion of half elves, and Emilia experienced days of hardship alone.

That being said, there was no just cause for Subaru to continue restraining Liliana, seeing how Emilia had forgiven her. He reluctantly let go of the girl’s body who was held by her wrists, elbows, shoulders, and arms.

[Liliana: *Pant* My chest! My chestt! Don’t attack things necessary for my work! What’re ya doing to a young girl’s body, Maid-san!?]

[Subaru: I want to be a man that uses up the power he has and protects the things important to him. Also, I’m sorry to say this, but even with my experience, it’s hasty to count you as the bottom for girls with soft fair skin, young lady.]

It was a different world with a very high percentage of beautiful girls, but Lilliana had the worst ladiness(according to Subaru’s inspection). Starting from the bottom, perhaps the first would be Beatrice, second would be Felt, and Liliana would be the winner for third place.

[Liliana: Alright! On top of holding a girl by her joints, you’ve also hurt a girl’s feelings! But but!]

Liliana stood out in front of Emilia with her mouse-like agileness while feeling indignant towards Subaru’s assessment of her. The short girl Liliana looks at Emilia, and her expression stiffens slightly. However,

[Liliana: Not only are you noble in your beauty, but you’re noble at heart. That moved me.]

[Emilia: Eh? Ah, yeah. Really?]

[Liliana: Yess! I am sorry for my careless behavior earlier with my bad manners. If the maid hadn’t restrained me, then I would have been eradicated by family and followers for my impoliteness!]

[Subaru: You’re the type to ruin yourself energetically, aren’t you!]

Subaru was surprised by her energetic, all out confession, but Liliana started to strum her instrument cheerfully.

[Liliana: I may look explosively abundant with sensitivity, but when there’s something in front of me that causes me to have an idea, I stop being patient! Thus, I will anxiously combine Emilia-sama’s beauty, graciousness, and her various reasons for not being able to publicly talk about her race!]

[Subaru: You sure are fresh, considering how I’ve never come across someone like you before.]

Liliana showed her necessary liveliness. Her noisiness wasn’t strange, nor was it pleasant.

This was because of her honest personality and her voice. Her beautiful voice that smoothly crept into people was natural. You could certainly say that being a bard was her calling.

[Subaru: Or maybe her calling is forcing old people to buy things like filled futons and water purifiers.]

[Liliana: What is this? I feel like those words just now gave off a cruel sort of feeling.]

Liliana overreacted to Subaru, who showed his admiration, although she did clearly ignore that.

To the side of Subaru, him being dumbfounded along with his wariness having faded away, Emilia also smiled at the wild girl.

[Emilia: However, although I am happy that you praised me, I don’t really think I am a beauty.]

[Liliana: Ah! Ahhh! As a woman, I just had unforgiving feelings pop up inside of me! I’ve got it. Please listen. ──Oh Goddess…]

[Subaru: Shut up! But, I do think that recognition of Emilia-tan needs to be corrected!]

Subaru and Liliana both give their denial, and Emilia tilted her head slightly with a look that made it seem as if she had said something unbelievable, appearing to be troubled.

4

──Now that he thought about it, he did feel tormented by anxiety and tension in the morning when he was first called out to the dining hall.

That’s what Subaru thought of at the Roswaal residence’s parlor as he tilted a cup of black tea.

[Emilia: What’s wrong Subaru? You’re making a reeeally weird look.]

Then, once he thought about it, Emilia called out to Subaru, her sitting to his side, as he had a bitter look because of the exceptionally dark flavor.

[Subaru: I thought a little bit about the past. I was just thinking about how I curled up too during my initial times at the mansion.]

[Emilia: That’s how it was? Didn’t you grin boldly back then just like you do now?]

[Subaru: When you put it like that, my suspiciousness increases, and that hurts!]

Subaru becomes astonished from the evaluation that had quite the difference between its subjectivity and objectivity.

Emilia looks at Subaru, him kneading his cheeks into a dissatisfied look, and she put her finger on her lips.

[Emilia: Yeah, I was kidding. I tried teasing you a little since it looked like you were in deep thought.]

[Subaru: Seriously? Well then you are E.M.A(Emilia-tan seriously is a wicked woman)!]

[Emilia: Yeah yeah. Also, you don’t have to be that tense too you know, Liliana.]

Emilia ignored Subaru’s nonsense, and she called out to Liliana, who cowered at the front. Liliana curled up with a pale face as she looked up saying “Oki”, as if the liveliness she had at the village was gone.

[Subaru: What is this what is this? You’re being awfully nervous. What happened to your cheerfulness from earlier?]

[Liliana: Even if ya’ll say that, I’m nervous. A─an ol country girl like me suddenly being invited to the feudal lord’s mansion…...also, for it to be the Margrave’s mansion……...I─if I do something careless………]

[Subaru: Your family and your followers will burn not just your roots, but even the fields around it. Like dogs, that is.]

Subaru gives a gesture of chopping his neck at Liliana, who became nervous and started speaking with an accent.

Liliana sees that gesture, her face becomes ghastly pale, and Emilia got angry as she hit his knee.

[Emilia: Godd, Subaru!]

[Subaru: I’m sorry I’m sorry. I did not think it would have an instant effect on her.]

Subaru apologizes with a wry smile at Emilia, who pouted with her cheeks. That being said, Subaru did feel gratified with Liliana’s behavior of acting quiet and meek, as he was manipulated at the village.

Subaru and the others returned to Roswaal’s mansion from the Alam village, and were currently having a friendly chat at the parlor──which meant that they were spending time together with a bit of a heavy atmosphere.

They had spare time from the mansion’s master to meet Lilliana, who was a visitor. In other words, this is why these three were on the couch facing each other.

[Subaru: Even so, did you see Ram’s displeased face as she acted as an intermediary? It seemed as if her eyes were scorning us as burdens that brought in unnecessary trouble.]

[Liliana: Eek! I’m not invited after all. The…...n, I need to run now……]

[Emilia: No come on it’s fine. Subaru wasn’t threatening you either. Don’t you feel sorry for Liliana?]

[Subaru: I wasn’t trying to scare her, I just told her the objective reality. It is true that I don’t like the idea of Ram increasing Ros-chi’s work, after all.]

Ram was a maid of the mansion, and she adored Roswaal. She was a girl who had an improperly prideful attitude towards being a waiter, so she let out a blunt sigh when she was requested to convey a message to Roswaal for the Liliana issue.

She was now talking with the master, while certainly feeling annoyed.

[Subaru: As of now, I don’t know what type of infamy Roswaal is hearing about. She might even be telling him that a giant bard over two meters high with a hoarse voice is asking for an audience.]

Even Roswaal, someone who was well known for strange things to some extent, wouldn’t see a suspicious person that might not be worth meeting. Thus, Liliana was pitiful with how she lost hope, but──

[Rem: You don’t have to worry that much. Nee-sama will be fair. Nee-sama won’t include arbitrary feelings when confirming Roswaal’s intentions, after all.]

The person who negated Subaru’s worries was this blue haired girl carrying a tray that gave off steam.

It was a beautiful girl wearing the very charming remodeled maid outfit that revealed her shoulders and back──it was Rem.

The girl who entered the room adds tea cakes with a graceful gesture, and she goes around pouring second servings of tea into the empty cups. Subaru sees Rem holding the teapot, and he held out his cup.

[Subaru: Putting the sweets aside, I thought that serving tea was only Ram’s job.]

[Rem: Nee-sama is always busy, after all. …….Also, I always want to prepare Subaru-kun’s tea. I put in a lot of things into the tea, such as my feelings, and other things as well.]

[Subaru: Can’t you just include the tea leaves and hot water? Please, I am begging you!]

When Subaru’s cheeks twitched as he said extreme words, Rem said “Too bad”, pouting with her lips.

Rem’s has always been like this towards Subaru ever since the resolvement of the mabeast incident. He was honestly happy with that expression of her deep affection, but Subaru was also a bit confused, as a part of male instincts.

The people around him and he himself did not know that this was a young man’s sad nature of not knowing about how this was a romantic period.

[Subaru: Anyways, I’ve used tea and sweets as excuses to invite you to join in. The contract has expired.]

[Rem: My…….to use the delicious tea, sweets, and the cute maid as excuses....I’m blushing.]

[Subaru: It’s the truth, but you smoothly added on one more thing, didn’t you?]

Subaru gives a quiet retort at Rem, who put her hands on her blushed cheeks. She accepts that, and Rem says this softly with a whisper while having an embarrassed smile

[Rem: Even so…….I heard that it was just a bard, but why the mansion?]

[Subaru: Ahhh, Emilia-tan was extremely interested….....there’s that, but the matter is a little more complicated. Somehow that girl broke through Emilia-tan’s recognition inhibition.]

Rem squints slightly in response to Subaru’s details that he said in a whisper. The recognition inhibition was a technical effect weaved into Emilia’s robe that she wore so that people wouldn’t notice her lineage, as she was a half elf. As long as the person didn’t have the power to break through that effect, or if they didn’t have Emilia’s approval, then the person could not recognize Emilia as Emilia.

[Rem: Breaking through that effect…..it’s Roswaal-sama’s knitted technique, so it’s hard to imagine that being broken.]

[Subaru: Right? Which is why I couldn’t leave it as is and brought her along.]

And then he used Ram’s tea and Rem’s tea cakes as pretext to bring her to the mansion. Liliana also quickly fell over with that pretext, even though she had been hesitant at first. He was really worried about her future.

Anyways, Subaru thought about how he couldn’t leave it as is, and brought her back to the mansion.

[Rem: I understand. In other words, force her to shut up before she reveals anything, right?]

[Subaru: You don't understand, and when you say that, it sounds like something serious!]

[Rem: Aw, come on, Subaru-kun. Of course I don’t go that far.]

Rem stuck out her tongue with a cute smile saying “Just kidding”, but it wasn’t convincing because of various reasons.

Though, those various reasons were only left at the back of his mind.

[Subaru: Even then, the effect of Rem’s tea cakes was outstanding.]

Now that he looked at it, even Liliana, someone who had been nervous earlier, went into a trance upon tasting the fragrant baked sweets. Rem’s ready wit for making pastry stood out, although she was already versatile with housework.

[Subaru: Let’s see, I’ll have one more……yeah, it’s super delicious after all. Rem’s pastries are superb.]

[Rem: Thank you! I put in my body and soul for Subaru’s sake…….I put in everything I had to the point of me being fine with never making sweets again…...those are the kind of feelings I made them with.]

[Subaru: You put in such determination as if it was like you were burning your soul, just for a casual moment like this!?]

While confirming the flavor of Rem putting in everything she had, Subaru pulls back slightly upon thinking about how pastries were risking their lives too.

And on the other hand, it seemed like Liliana also was able to relax. She leaned on the couch as she stroked her stomach.

[Liliana: Zzz…….zzz…….]

[Subaru: I still don’t happen to have a heart big enough to overlook you dozing!]

[Liliana: Huh! I’m not sleeping! I am not sleeping! It was me planning to arrest assassins where I’d pretend to look like I was sleeping, and they’d get lured out after observing me.]

[Emilia: ……! That’s not good, someone is trying to get you……?]

[Liliana: See look! My naive angel has been fooled!]

Emilia, someone who didn’t know how to doubt people, had been successfully tricked by Liliana, who talked fast.

Perhaps Liliana was a girl that could only have extremely strong reactions or extremely weak reactions, as she wiped the drool that hung around her mouth.

[Rem: By the way Ma’am I have heard that you are a bard.]

Surprisingly enough, Rem was the one who said that and broadened the topic.

The instrument that leaned against the sofa──in response to Rem, who gazed at the lutta, Liliana hastefully carried the instrument and raised her trembling voice nervously.

[Liliana Yes, yes! I am sorry for being a reckless dream chaser that challenges the world with my lutta!]

[Subaru: You really are someone that just goes with the flow!]

Liliana was acting so abasing of herself that it was more refreshing to see, but Rem clapped her hands without caring about it. She had the same type of radiance in her blue eyes that Emilia had when she first heard her sing.

[Rem: Well then, Ma'am, do you know a lot of famous stories?]

[Liliana: ──! Yeah, yes! Leave it up to me!]

Liliana’s eyes shine at Rem’s question, and she plays the lutta.

[Liliana: I’m also a girl who lived independently for no less than 10 years like this by making a career out of playing the lutta. I have confidence in my songs that bring tears to people’s eyes, exciting a bunch of people, swallowing them up into a swirl of madness.]

[Subaru: Hey wait! Living independently for 10 years? Just how old are you again?!]

[Liliana: I’ll be turning 20 this year, but is there something wrong with that?]

[Subaru: You’re 20 with that appearance and that calmness!?]

She had childish looks, and an immature chest, butt, and hips. He felt sorry for the exposing of her thin body, but he felt even more sorry now that he knew about her real age.

[Subaru: This isn’t a time for a legal loli to be saying this and that…….I saw something even more horrible…….]

[Liliana: Yeah, be quiet. A person you like has a request. Also…]

Liliana pushes aside Subaru, him being busy with being moved while feeling pity, and stares back at Rem’s look of expectation. She picks up her lutta, and took a pose of having one leg on the sofa.

[Liliana: Alright, I will take any request. What shall I do? One of the masterpieces…...for example, speaking of immortal, famous poems, the “Sword Demon Love Poem” sounds good!]

[Subaru: Hey, that sounds like a disturbing title.]

[Liliana: What are you saying!? The “Sword Demon Love Poem” is a famous poem that is passed down through singing not just in Lugnica, but other various countries too! It’s a story that makes a lot of girls fret as they want to feel the same romance as the awkward but honest military man, and then they cave in.]

[Subaru: I─is that so……]

[Liliana: Yes, absolutely! The very last part in particular is one that I cannot sing without tears. The people that see the scene become fascinated by everything where the sword demon crosses swords with his lover and the weapons unfold!]

[Subaru: Isn’t that lovers crossing swords with each other!?]

It was a summary, but he could only think of it to be brutal.

There was literature back in his original world where people would “kill each other from love”, but that was out of his scope to follow up.

As for Subaru, it was a title that simply gave only that sort of impression, but

[Rem: What are you saying, Subaru-kun? The “Sword Demon Love Poem” is a famous poem that represents Lugnica. I’ve also heard of it over and over.]

[Subaru: Seriously!? Is that true!? Emilia-tan, do you cave in to it too?]

[Emilia: Eh? Sorry, I don’t really know much about it. I might not be able to meet your expectations.]

[Subaru: No, your response is fine! Emilia-tan’s response is just what I expected!]

Or rather, the unexpected trend of Rem’s tastes was becoming so clear that he was surprised.

Liliana puts the three’s noisiness aside, and while seeming to be looking up a song book in her head, she says

[Liliana: As for other ones, there’s “The Blue Lightning of Vollachia” and “The Figure of the Sword Hill’s Hero”. Also also, can’t forget the classic example of success, one that represents the founding of Kararagi’s might, “Hoshin of the Wilderness”]

[Subaru: There’s a lot of them. Nevertheless, don’t a lot of the songs involve lineage of great men? Or did you gather only those type of songs according to your tastes?]

[Liliana: I do have my own tastes, but as you’d expect, the general public likes the ones about heroic tales and lives of great men. They are brilliant stories that cause people to have aspirations. I take it a step further from there, as I want to pass them down through songs.]

Liliana’s cheeks blush as if in embarrassment, and she reveals one end of the purpose of her journey to Subaru and the others.

Subaru shook his head, indicating that he had no intentions to make fun of her attitude.

[Subaru: That’s awesome. Deciding on what you want to do at that age…....or wait, you said you were 20, eh.]

[Liliana: You’re talking in a prickly way, but do you have a problem or something with me being 20? If you get too persistent, then you can go to court, and I’ll go too.]

[Subaru: Where would a court be in this world…….]

Was it a place that held things similar to trials? Subaru didn’t know, being someone who was poorly informed on this world.

[Rem: So Ma’am, is spreading those songs the goal of your journey?]

[Liliana: Nooo, that’s not the only goal. Of course, I do think spreading the songs is a mission of mine as well, but I have a more rooted goal myself. That is…….]

Liliana answered Rem’s question with a face that indicated the renewal of her mood. However, she was interrupted before she could take the opportunity to answer. That was because

[Ram: ──Sorry for interrupting in the middle of your chat.]

They hear the sound of a knock, and a lone maid that pushed the door open on the other side bowed her head politely.

Her appearance made Rem and her look like two peas in a pod, and the girl who squinted with the light red eyes under her pink hair──Ram lifted her face, and said

[Ram: Thanks for your patience. Master Roswaal-sama will be seeing the guest.]

That’s how she expressed her message with a manner of welcoming the “honored guest”.